Team owners have passed a resolution that starting this season will allow for local broadcasts of NFL games even when as few as 85% of tickets are sold. Under the new rule, each team has more flexibility to establish its own seat-sales benchmark as long as it is 85% or higher. To discourage teams from setting easy benchmarks, teams will be forced to share more of the revenue when they exceed it.

Sweet I always thought a total sell-out was ridiculous - 75-85% always seemed like a much more reasonable benchmark.

Now if they'd just change the stupid rule that forces blackouts on the OC of Chargers games (when not enough tix are sold), but doesn't guarantee you get to see the game (when enough tix are sold) if the network decides they want to show something else... like the stupid Jets or Patriots

If a team lowers the bar for blackouts, the number is fixed for the season. Whenever the team clears the mark, it will be required to share more ticket revenue than usual with other teams in the league. It’s that part of the new rules that the Chargers believe would be too high a price to pay, said A.G. Spanos, the team’s executive vice president and chief executive officer.

"And even if you went to 15 percent lower, hypothetically an 85 percent manifest, that doesn't necessarily guarantee you a lift of the blackout for every game," Spanos said Monday. “It's also important to understand that the manifest is set for the year for every game, whether it's a big game for us or a game with a less attractive opponent.

They should just pull a Jacksonville and cover some of the seats with tarps so they can keep their precious nickels.

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Considering there's over 1,000 obstructed view seats, that's something I've wondered about for ages. Expecting people to pay good money for bad seats is greedy and dishonest. The Spanos' could dispense with those seats and selling out would rarely be an issue.

SAN DIEGO ---- The NFL has a new rule that allows each team to relax the local television blackout standard.The Chargers will decline that option.Teams taking advantage of an offer to drop the blackout-lifting level from 100 percent of general tickets sold to as low as 85 percent 72 hours prior to kickoff must do so by July 15.While it sounds like a slam dunk on the surface, easing the blackout policy comes with consequences too severe for the Chargers to accept.Teams can't pick and choose when they drop the blackout level. Doing so would drop it for the season, and come with a significant financial penalty.If the manifest ---- a base level for tickets sold ---- was dropped to 85 percent, for example, every ticket sold beyond that would be subject to a greater share with the visiting team. Those tickets sold above the manifest percentage are subject to a 50-50 split. According to the Buffalo News, that would be a 16 percent increase because NFL visiting teams currently receive 34 percent of each sold ticket.That's a bigger deal for a team such as the Chargers, which needs people moving turnstiles more than most."We're in one of the oldest stadiums in the league, and don't have opportunities that other teams have to increase revenue with things like a bigger naming rights deal or digital signage," executive vice president and CEO A.G. Spanos said. "We rely heavily on ticket sales as a primary revenue stream. This market has shown an ability to sell out games over the last 10 years, and we need to take advantage of that."It might be different if the policy was flexible, but it's not."The Chargers have had just six blackouts since 2004, all within the past two seasons. The team had four blackouts in 2010 and two in 2011 ---- against the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills ---- bucking a strong sell-out trend. The team lifted blackouts for 48 straight regular season and postseason games during a period of on-field success.The Chargers obviously hope to sell out every game, as much to generate revenue and game-time excitement as to avoid the public relations backlash associated with a local television blackout."We're doing everything possible to avoid those situations," Spanos said. "This market can support a full season of sellouts, and we're trying to add value to season ticket packages and get fans involved for the entire slate of games."Spanos said the team's season-ticket total is lower than where it was last year at this time, but he's optimistic that it will be equal to 2011 when the season rolls around. The Chargers are trying to make game-day experience more fan friendly, and say they have added several perks to being a season ticket holder. Sean ticket-holders can watch private training camp practices, receive stadium tours, get on conference calls with team personnel and win a trip to attend a future Super Bowl.The Chargers believe those efforts can help sell out every game, negating the need to drop the manifest percentage and sacrifice the revenue associated with such a move."We've been able to lift blackouts most every week for the past eight to 10 years," Spanos said. "We believe our manifest is right where it should be and that we can sell these games out."

Spanos said the team's season-ticket total is lower than where it was last year at this time, but he's optimistic that it will be equal to 2011 when the season rolls around.

Well they did keep Norv, I wonder if that had anything to do with it?

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Capitalists should understand free market rules, right?

We can't all be "too big to fail" bankster thugs.

Putting this all on Norv is still a shallow view, IMO, but there will be no new stadium aka San Diego Chargers unless the W's go up. People who live in comfortable climes won't suffer but so much. That includes the ownership.

Considering there's over 1,000 obstructed view seats, that's something I've wondered about for ages. Expecting people to pay good money for bad seats is greedy and dishonest. The Spanos' could dispense with those seats and selling out would rarely be an issue.

Putting this all on Norv is still a shallow view, IMO, but there will be no new stadium aka San Diego Chargers unless the W's go up. People who live in comfortable climes won't suffer but so much. That includes the ownership.

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alot of people did not renew their tickets because Norv was kept as the head coach. What is shallow about that?

There are many causes which have contributed to the decline of the team in recent seasons. Some of them are subtle, some of them are less so. However, I think it's fairly clear that a large part of the ticket-buying fan base has lost faith in Norv/Smitty, and are showing it with their wallets.

That's what I mean about drivel. Looks good on your post count if nothing else.

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I spent 30 seconds looking for a gif of a child futilely swinging his arms in an attempt to punch an adult who is calmly holding the child at arms length with his hand on the child's forehead, but then decided that 30 seconds was already too long of an investment, and that I shouldn't throw good time in after bad (to borrow from the saying regarding money). If anyone has one handy, feel free to post.

Thanks again, Cuddles, the mental images that your responses conjure up for me are just wildly entertaining.

Norv was only one of multiple factors in the Chargers' recent decline. Norv .... OR AJ .... OR the talent .... is only a portion of the picture.

Too bad I don't live nearby. Maybe I could p/u a good seat.

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we have an owner that is showing us that all he cares about is the all mighty dollar. He could care less about the fans. He lost money because he kept Norv, he didnt want to fire him because Norv had signed a big contract and that would mean he would have to be bought off. he could have lowered the amount of seats required for a sellout, but then he would have lost money if more people showed up. There will be more blackouts. Thats too bad, I wish we would have had an owner that wants to win a Super Bowl over one that is only in it for the money.

Thats too bad, I wish we would have had an owner that wants to win a Super Bowl over one that is only in it for the money.

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Man... I really don't know why people write this crap... (if not to make themselves feel better). Never mind the anti-Norv spin and the constant demand for a scapegoat. It reminds me of Republicans who demand Obama produce a legitimate birth certificate or claim universal heath care is a conspiracy to rob people of their hard earned dollars.

There has to be a better way to earn money than to run a professional football team. So I decided to check.

Correct me if I am wrong... but the highest earner I could connect to a professional sports franchise was at 103. The Washington Nationals are hardly your cash cow. 114th rated Pegula bought the Buffalo Sabres not to make money... rather as a life long fan intending to throw his extra cash at it. He doesn't need the money... so he can afford to chase a Stanley Cup. I sincerely believe there is not a single owner in the NFL who doesn't want to win. Even the idiot Glazers dished out the cash for VJ while their English football team is going down the toilet in a $650 mil debt... (requiring floatation on the NYSE).

Shet! Hedge funds, stock trading, leveraged takeovers... There HAS to be an easier way of making a buck than providing entertainment for ingrates.

And I really must get me one of those books or pamphlets or DVD's on how to be a perfect fan!

Must I still genuflect when Spanos enters the stadium, and when I meet him do I kiss the back of his hand, or do I just put my forehead upon the back of his hand?Do they still throw roses petals on his entrance, and are they Red OR Pink petals? Maybe they should be pink to match his love of Norv! Its too bad we are not going anywhere with Norv calling the shots. But good ol Norv has a bunch fans in here, too bad they don’t go to the games!

There are many causes which have contributed to the decline of the team in recent seasons. Some of them are subtle, some of them are less so. However, I think it's fairly clear that a large part of the ticket-buying fan base has lost faith in Norv/Smitty, and are showing it with their wallets.

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And they will all be back in about 30 seconds once we win a couple games. Thanks to all the people who bailed, made it easier to get the exact seats I wanted!

And I really must get me one of those books or pamphlets or DVD's on how to be a perfect fan!

Must I still genuflect when Spanos enters the stadium, and when I meet him do I kiss the back of his hand, or do I just put my forehead upon the back of his hand?Do they still throw roses petals on his entrance, and are they Red OR Pink petals? Maybe they should be pink to match his love of Norv! Its too bad we are not going anywhere with Norv calling the shots. But good ol Norv has a bunch fans in here, too bad they don’t go to the games!

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I remember someone who ranted and raved when other posters would post stuff like this constantly. If you cant beat them, join them I guess the message reads...

I remember someone who ranted and raved when other posters would post stuff like this constantly. If you cant beat them, join them I guess the message reads...

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No Alan was right, Norv has ruined this team. And we will never go anywhere with him as the head coach. And I have a hundred bucks to back that up. But no one wants any of that action because they know deep down it’s a safe bet.

But unlike Alan where every thread turned into an anti Norv rant, I am only joining in where the topic fits.

The Chargers will not change the blackout rule, because Spanos does not want to lose more money. And because some season ticket holders have not renewed their tickets this year, there will be more blackouts. The reason they did not renew their tickets, NORV is still the head coach. I have another 100 bucks saying that once Norv is fired, the amount of season ticket holders increase that very next season.